Buffalo Bills News - August 4, 2002

Training camp billboard [9:40 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'A fan was commenting how well QB Drew Bledsoe threw the ball when a lady beside him uttered these stunning words: "When did we sign Drew Bledsoe?" Apparently, the news didn't travel to the cave she's lived in the last five months.'

Cowboys' Smith has shot to break Payton's record [9:39 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'A big reason why the flip-flop of Trey Teague and Jonas Jennings on the Bills' offensive line makes so much sense is that Teague has more experience than Jennings, and Teague figures to be a better communicator of line calls.'

Kelly in Hall, his hero on hand [6:39 AM]D and C reports:
'"Since the day I was elected (in late January), I prayed to God that my son would be here with me today," Kelly said. "God has granted me that blessing. It has been written throughout my career that toughness was my trademark. Well, the toughest person I've ever met in my life is my hero, my soldier, my son, Hunter."'

Bills fans roar as Kelly soars again [6:38 AM]D and C reports:
'I thought I had showed up at a Bills' tailgate party at the Ralph, not the induction ceremonies at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.'

First impression wasn't good for Smerlas [6:37 AM]D and C reports:
'"But the minute he walked into the locker room, he walked up and spoke to me and Joe Devlin and Bruce Smith and Jim Ritcher and told each of us that he had followed us and he felt we had the material to become a winning football team. He immediately started rallying people. I had read him totally wrong."'

Some signs of hope [6:36 AM]D and C reports:
'All in all, the Bills performed admirably, but along with the good, there was more than enough bad that must be corrected before the Bills line up against the New York Jets in the season opener on Sept. 8.'

Browns still struggle to move the ball [6:35 AM]D and C reports:
'Missing featured running back William Green because of a minor injury to his right shoulder, the Browns first-team offense accomplished little, if anything, in the scrimmage at St. John Fisher College.'

Northcutt making a bid to start at wide receiver [6:34 AM]D and C reports:
'Looking for a No. 2 receiver so wide receiver Kevin Johnson has more room to operate, Browns coach Butch Davis has been raving all week about Northcutt's play in training camp.'

Local NFL official ready for big year [6:33 AM]D and C reports:
'This was the first time the Browns and McAulay's crew have met since Dec. 16, when the infamous beer bottle toss broke out in Cleveland.'

Browns like Mike Williams [6:32 AM]D and C reports:
'''He's Paul Bunyan in cleats,'' said Lang of the 6-foot-6, 375-pound Williams. ''He's a big, strong guy with good feet who's going to learn how to play in this league. I bet he'll have a much better season next year because he'll know a lot more.'''

Fan of the Day [6:31 AM]D and C reports:
'"I like the idea of bringing in Drew Bledsoe and I think they are going to be good, but I'm more excited about my Browns. I think they are going to make it to the playoffs."'

Bills seek to establish confidence [6:30 AM]Olean Times Herald reports:
'"We lacked in that area last year ... we had tons of opportunities, but whether we had enough skills to finish those opportunities..."'

Fan to Kelly: Thanks for the memories [6:29 AM]Syracuse Post-Standard reports:
'He was the linchpin for a franchise about to take its long-suffering fans for the ride of a lifetime. In fact, I proposed to my wife in the afterglow of a playoff-clinching victory in 1990.'

Class enters Pro Football Hall of Fame [6:28 AM]Cleveland Plain Dealer reports:
'Hunter Kelly's fragile life is only five hard, surprising years long, but it has given his famous father a sense of purpose after football.'

First step is a little unsteady [6:27 AM]Cleveland Plain Dealer reports:
'The No. 1 defense roared out, causing a Drew Bledsoe incompletion and then three successive negative plays before Bledsoe whipped an 18-yard strike to Peerless Price. Price had another 20-yard gain before the defense held off Bledsoe with a sack at the Browns' 5 on the 12th play.'

Kelly shows first-round 1983 draftees way to Hall of Fame [6:25 AM]Canton Repository reports:
'Kelly is the first player from the Bills' Super Bowl teams to be elected to the Hall of Fame. He will not be the last. Next year, kick returner Steve Tasker will be eligible for the first time. "He's the greatest special teams player ever to play the game," Kelly said. "There was nobody, nobody like Steve Tasker."'

Bruce Smith may need help getting inside stadium, but not HOF [6:24 AM]Canton Repository reports:
'When the 6-foot-4, 265-pound Smith sat on the cart, the vehicle's four tires seemed to wilt under the duress. But away it chugged, whisking the 17-year veteran to his spot at the forefront of the celebration.'

Kelly’s longtime pals couldn’t miss this party [6:21 AM]Canton Repository reports:
'From Penny M. Wolfgang, a New York Supreme Court justice, to what one East Brady, Pa., resident claimed was “half Jim’s hometown,” the party was pure Kelly. White collars and blue collars rubbed shoulders, and everyone knew Jim and one or more of his five brothers.'

Special commemorative footballs will provide Hunter’s Hope benefit [6:20 AM]Canton Repository reports:
'Nikco Sports is offering a limited edition, 5,000 NFL-licensed footballs commemorating Kelly's Hall of Fame induction, and donating 10 percent of the proceeds to the Hunter's Hope Foundation, an organization that raises funds to support research efforts to find a cure for Krabbe disease and other leukodystrophies.'

QB's clan fills up Fawcett with love [6:10 AM]Akron Beacon Journal reports:
'"I feel like we're at a Bills home game," said Kelly's former center Kent Hull. "Akron has never seen a party like the one we have planned."'

Football and family [6:09 AM]Akron Beacon Journal reports:
'Every year, new Pro Football Hall of Famers talk about the people who changed their lives. But until Saturday, one of those had never been a 5-year-old lying in a canopied stroller in the front row, his eyes barely open, a line of oxygen wrapped under his nose.'

Kelly makes special nomination for Tasker [6:08 AM]Akron Beacon Journal reports:
'Besides Kelly, Thurman Thomas, the Bills former All-Pro running back, doesn't see why Tasker shouldn't have a bronze bust. "You talk about individuals making plays and making a difference, he's the greatest special teams player ever to play the game," Thomas said.'

Hall welcomes in another fab five [6:06 AM]Massillon Independent reports:
'The Buffalo turnout even drowned out the usually overwhelming number of "Terrible Towel"-waving Pittsburgh Steeler fans who showed up to cheer for Stallworth.'